Method of playing a poker game

ABSTRACT

A poker variation game involving multiple wagers and the utilization of a wild card. Cards are dealt by the dealer, two cards face down to each player and one community wild card dealt face up. Players inspect their cards and determine whether to fold, or to make a second bet. The variation provides the improvements of allowing the rank of the wild card to be different for every deal, and provides that each player gets at least one wild card on every hand. All bets are ultimately resolved according to a predetermined payout schedule.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/259,935 filed on Jan. 8, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a method for playing a pokervariation card game involving the utilization of a wild card andmultiple wagers. The game can be played with a standard deck of cards orby video machine technology in a casino or home environment. Inparticular, it relates to a method for playing a wagering game, whereinthe game is a variation of stud poker and provides players with theopportunity to determine when additional wagers will be made. Further,the particular invention provides the improvements of allowing the wildcard rank to be different for every deal, and of giving each player atleast one wild card every hand.

[0004] 2. Background Art

[0005] There are numerous wagering games used for gambling. Such gamesshould be simple to understand, yet exciting to play, and should givethe player the opportunity to determine when they will make successivewagers. The addition of a wild card that the player can use to symbolizeany other card increases the player's excitement. Exciting play, theopportunity that the wild card rank may change for every hand, theability to determine when they will wager certain bets, and the abilityto have at least one wild card on every deal, all contribute to enhancethe player's interest and enjoyment of the game.

[0006] Gambling games intended primarily for play in a casino setting,should provide players with an enhanced sense of participation andcontrol, the opportunity to make decisions that affect the outcome oftheir wager, and a reasonable chance of winning, despite the odds beingin favor of the casino or house. Wagering games that utilize the conceptof common or community cards to complete a player's hand are known (Seegenerally “Scames Encyclopedia of Games”, John Scame, Harper & Row,1973. Wagering games, including wagering games for casino play, withmultiple wagering opportunities are also known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,861,041and 5,087,405 (both to Jones et al.) disclose methods and apparatus forprogressive jackpot gaming, respectively. The former patent disclosesthat a player may make an additional wager at the beginning of a hand,the outcome of the additional wager being determined by a predeterminedarrangement of cards in the player's hand. U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,553 (toSuttle and Jones) discloses a modified version of a five card stud pokergame. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,081 (to Breeding), which disclosesthat a player may make a wager at the beginning of a hand and then laterretrieve a portion of the wager. Also, additional symbols may be addedto the usual means of playing a game to increase wagering opportunities.This is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,107 (to Boylan et al). Similaras to the foregoing see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,430 (to Aramapakul etal) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,216 (to Jones). U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,907 (toWells) discloses that a player may disregard usual discard rules todeclare an immediate winner determined by predetermined arrangements ofcards in the player's hand.

[0007] The desired attributes of wagering games outlined above are inlarge measure provided by the method and apparatus for a wagering gamein accordance with the present invention. The game is uncomplicated,exciting, and provides the player with the opportunity to determine whenthey will make successive wagers. More significantly, the presentinvention provides the improvements that the wild card rank may changefor every hand and that the player will receive at least one wild cardon every deal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The wagering game of the present invention is played with asingle, standard fifty-two card poker deck and broadly involves thegenerally well recognized and accepted set of rules and proceduresrelative to stud and hold'em poker when a wild card is utilized. Thepresent invention is a method for playing a poker variation card gameinvolving multiple wagers. The object of the game is for each player tocombine the four cards from the player's hand with the community wildcard in front of the dealer to create a winning poker hand. Players donot play against other players or against the dealer.

[0009] The game method comprises each player making an initial ante toparticipate in the game. When offered, all players may also place anadditional $1 bonus bet in the area marked bonus. Following the shuffleand cut, cards are dealt by a dealer, two down to each player and acommunity wild card is placed in front of the dealer. During each handthe community wild card and any card of the same rank in a player's handare wild, and shall be considered to be of whatever suit and rank thatwill give the player the highest poker hand.

[0010] After a player has received two cards, and the wild card has beendetermined the player has the option to either play or fold. If theplayer does not believe that the player's initial two cards whencombined with the community wild card and the two additional playercards to be dealt to the player will lead to a winning poker hand, theplayer may place both of the player's initial two cards in the areamarked “FOLD” and surrender the player's initial ante and any bonus bet.

[0011] If the player wishes to continue play on the hand and receive twomore cards from the dealer, the player must place, in the area marked“BET”, an additional bet exactly equal to twice the amount of theplayer's ante.

[0012] After all players have made their choice to either play, bymaking the double bet, or to fold, the dealer will deal two additionalcards to each player that has made a bet. The dealer will then examineeach of the player's hands and determine the highest poker hand held byeach player when the player's four cards are combined with the communitywild card. The dealer then determines what payout, if any, each playeris entitled to receive according to that player's wagers and thepre-determined payout schedule. Payouts are made to players with winninghands and the losing wagers are collected.

[0013] On all winning hands the player is paid 1 to 1 on the amount ofthe player's ante, and the bet is paid according to the payout scheduleposted at the game table. The dealer will also determine for all playerswith a winning hand and who also made the additional $1 bonus bet, whatbonus payment, if any, that player is entitled to receive according tothe pre-determined bonus bet payout schedule posted at the game table.

[0014] Apparatus is disclosed for playing the wagering game according tothe method outlined above. A typical gaming table, with a playingsurface, is modified to include specific areas that provide locationsfor placing the wagers (ante, bet, and bonus), folded hands, and fordisplaying the community wild card. A display devise may be associatedwith the apparatus for displaying game information.

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide an excitingand interesting wagering game that is easy to learn and that is largelybased on stud and hold'em poker principals as modified when a wild cardis utilized.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide newvariations and improvements to known wagering games by both allowing thewild card rank to be different for every deal, and by providing thateach player has at least one wild card every hand. These improvementsare made while still providing the player with the opportunity todetermine when additional wagers will be made.

[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide awagering game that is easy to learn, yet demands skill of players inmaking strategic decisions about when and upon which cards to makesecond bets. A further object of the present invention is to provide aunique, exciting card game for play in casinos or at home and on variousmedia including casino tables, video poker machines, video lotteryterminals or home computers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 depicts the table layout and apparatus used in playing thewagering game of the present invention,

[0019]FIG. 2 depicts an individual player's game board on the tablelayout, and

[0020]FIG. 3 is a block diagram representing the flow of play in thegame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The Preferred Embodiment or Best Mode of Use is as follows:

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for the wagering game of thepresent invention includes a typical casino gambling or gaming table 10.The table 10 has a curved side 11 for accommodating six to seven playersand a straight side 12 for accommodating the dealer. The table 10 has aflat surface 13 covered with felt or other appropriate material.Although six playing positions or locations 14 a-f for individualplayers are provided, it is not essential to the game that exactly sixpersons play and as many as twelve players may participate. For casinoplay, a maximum of six or seven players provides for a game that iseasily manageable by the dealer and house, and one in which theindividual players feel more involved. A house dealer position 15,including an area suitable for displaying the community wild card 16, isprovided.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the player's game board consists of twoprimary and one secondary, separate and distinct wagering or bettingareas, the Ante 21 the Bet 22 and the optional Bonus 24. Each playerposition also includes an area for the player to “Fold” 23 and a printedpre-determined payout schedule 25.

[0024] Referring to the flow diagram of FIG. 3, the initial step inplaying the game of the present invention is preparing or shuffling astandard deck of cards represented at block 30. Next, each player willmake an initial wager, block 31, by placing a bet in the betting areamarked “Ante”, 21 on the player's game board. After each player hasplaced a wager the cards are dealt by a dealer, block 32, two cardsbeing dealt face down to each player and one community wild card isplaced face up in front of the dealer in area 16. The first player toreceive cards is the player to the left of the dealer.

[0025] After each participating player has received two cards and thecommunity wild card has been determined each player has the option toeither Bet or Fold, block 33. If the player believes that the playercannot make a winning hand, the player may place both cards in the cardarea marked “Fold”, 23, and surrender the player's ante, 21 and anybonus bet, 24. If the player wishes to continue to play the hand, theplayer must place a second wager, exactly equal to twice the amount ofthe initial ante, in the area marked “Bet”, 22.

[0026] After all players have made their choice to either play or fold,the dealer will deal two additional cards to each player that has made aBet, block 34. The dealer will then examine each player's hand anddetermine the highest poker hand held by each player when the player'sfour cards are combined with the community wild card, block 35. Thecommunity wild card and any card of the same rank in the players' handare wild, and shall be considered to be of whatever suit and rank thatwill give the player the highest poker hand.

[0027] The dealer then determines what payout, if any, each player isentitled to receive according to that player's wagers and thepre-determined payout schedule, block 36. On all winning hands theplayer is paid 1 to 1 on the amount of the player's ante, and the bet ispaid according to the payout schedule, 25 posted at the game table.

[0028] A typical payout schedule is as follows: Payout Schedule Ante isPaid 1 to 1 on all winning hands The Bet is paid as follows: NaturalRoyal Flush 1000 to 1   Four Wilds 100 to 1  Wild Royal Flush 20 to 1 Five of a Kind 10 to 1  Straight Flush 5 to 1 4 of a Kind 3 to 2 FullHouse 3 to 2 Flush 1 to 1 Straight 1 to 2 3 of a Kind 1 to 2

[0029] In offering the present invention the retail licensee (Casino)may, but shall not be required to, offer the players the additionaloption of qualifying for a $1 bonus bet payout. Payer's electing to makethis optional bet do so by placing a $1 bet in the betting areadesignated “Bonus”, 25, on the player's game board. This additional betqualifies the player to win a bonus payout on that hand. Bonus payouts,when offered, are paid to the player in addition to the regular ante andbet payouts.

[0030] Player hands qualifying for the Bonus Jackpot shall be paidaccording to a pre-determined Bonus payout schedule, which shall beprominently posted at the table:

[0031] A typical bonus payout schedule is as follows: Bonus PayoutSchedule Natural Royal Flush 5000 to 1  Four Wilds 400 to 1 Wild RoyalFlush 100 to 1 Five of a Kind  25 to 1 Straight Flush  10 to 1 4 of aKind  3 to 1 Full House  2 to 1 Flush  2 to 1 Straight PUSH 3 of a KindPUSH

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a poker variation card gameinvolving multiple wagers using a single standard deck of cards, withsaid game involving standard poker hand rankings when a wild card isutilized and comprising the steps of: each player placing a wager toparticipate in the game; a dealer dealing cards face down to each playerand at least one community card face up for use by all participatingplayers; restricting all participating players to the option to eitherplay or fold; requiring all players who wish to continue to play a handto make a second bet exactly equal to twice the amount of the playersinitial wager; a dealer dealing additional cards to each player that hasmade a bet; determining the highest poker hand held by each player;determining what payout, if any, each player is entitled to receiveaccording to that player's wagers and the pre-determined payoutschedule.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the community wildcard and any card of the same rank in the players' hand are wild.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, providing that each player will have atleast one wild card on every hand.
 4. The method according to claim 2,allowing the rank of the community wild card to be different for everydeal.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the community wildcard and any card of the same rank in the players' hand shall beconsidered to be of whatever suit and rank that will give the player thehighest poker hand.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein theparticipating players are not playing against each other or against thedealer.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each player shallhave the option to wager an additional bonus bet.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 7, of resolving players bonus bets comprising thesteps of: determining which players, if any, have made a bonus betwager; determining the highest poker hand held by each player;determining what payout, if any, each player is entitled to receiveaccording to that player's wager and the pre-determined bonus payoutschedule.
 9. The method according to claim 1 and providing apparatus forplaying the game, said apparatus including a playing surface havingwager receiving areas, a discard area, and a common card-receiving areafor receiving and showing the community card.
 10. A method of playing apoker variation card game involving multiple wagers using a singlestandard deck of cards, with said game involving standard poker handrankings when a wild card is utilized and comprising the steps of: eachplayer placing a wager to participate in the game; a dealer dealing twocards face down to each player and one community card face up for use byall participating players as a wild card; restricting all participatingplayers to the option to either play or fold; requiring all players whowish to continue to play a hand to make a second bet exactly equal totwice the amount of the players initial wager; a dealer dealing twoadditional cards to each player that has made a bet; determining thehighest poker hand held by each player when the player's four cards arecombined with the community wild card; determining what payout, if any,each player is entitled to receive according to that player's wagers andthe pre-determined payout schedule.
 11. The method according to claim10, wherein the community wild card and any card of the same rank in theplayers' hand are wild.
 12. The method according to claim 10, providingthat each player will have at least one wild card on every hand.
 13. Themethod according to claim 11, allowing the rank of the community wildcard to be different for every deal.
 14. The method according to claim10, wherein the community wild card and any card of the same rank in theplayers' hand shall be considered to be of whatever suit and rank thatwill give the player the highest poker hand.
 15. The method according toclaim 10, wherein the participating players are not playing against eachother or against the dealer.
 16. The method according to claim 10,wherein each player shall have the option to wager an additionalone-dollar bonus bet.
 17. The method according to claim 16, of resolvingplayers bonus bets comprising the steps of: determining which players,if any, have made a one-dollar bonus bet wager; determining the highestpoker hand held by each player when the player's four cards are combinedwith the community wild card; determining what payout, if any, eachplayer is entitled to receive according to that player's wager and thepre-determined bonus payout schedule.
 18. The method according to claim10 and providing apparatus for playing the game, said apparatusincluding a playing surface having wager receiving areas, a discardarea, and a common card-receiving area for receiving and showing thecommunity wild card.